Connie Gibney, International Human Resources Director, LinkedIn EMEA gave a very interesting talk at it@cork. She discussed how LinkedIn had almost by accident changed the way recruitment occurs online. Most interesting to me was her insights on recruiters. They don’t use LinkedIn only to find people actively seeking jobs.

They’re also search for qualified people who aren’t job hunting. Connie said, “The most valuable employee is typically one that already has a job. Therefore, these passive jobseekers are often “found” on LinkedIn.

But with two people joining every second, it can be difficult to stand out and be found by these recruiters.

This is especially true if a company is seeking to hire a mangesenior r. In a senior position potential employers look for people who have a strong network, actively cultivate it, and are seen as an influencer or leader in their organisation or field. Without a LinkedIn profile,this is difficult to demonstrate.

Taking the time to craft and market your LinkedIn profile can pull great opportunities in your direction.Recruiters actively search for candidates among LinkedIn members by searching on keywords for people with the required qualifications listed in their LinkedIn profile. Your profile should be keyword rich, well-developed and complete. Include your up to date contact information so others can easily contact you.

Ultimately whether you are a job seeker or just a networker,the real value and benefit of LinkedIn is in the the number and quality of your connections.The best way to build up an effective network is to work on it with a clear goal in mind.

Julia Markish has written an excellent post for companies outlining how they need to move From what to who and how. I think some of her tips could equally apply to professionals who use LinkedIn as part of their job search.

If you were to describe your present role , what would you say? You might start by describing the what: your compensation package, your main responsibilities, your office or even the type of business or sector. this would be an accurate description but it does not tell the whole story. It does not describe you.

Julia asks that age old and difficult to answer question; what really differentiates your experience as an employee?

This is the question that challenges every employee, graduate or manager, whether in creating their LinkedIn Profile or at the interview itself.She suggests, and I agree that Who you work for and How you work with them can be an essential component in discovering that differentiation.

Who you work for

Some of the questions you might consider when crafting your profile might include:

What was your title – How does the title represent what you actually did or do?

How did that company inspire you? How has was your potential developed during the time that you worked their? Who did you interact with, mentor or support?

If you no longer work for the company, do you still get on with your old colleagues and are you staying current with key trends in the field?

How you work with them

Which of your talents and strengths are or were the most valued or called upon?

What part did you play in different projects?

What benefit did they receive from your skills?

What did you reduce, save, increase, develop etc.?

In the traditional job search using only CVs or cover letters, it was difficult to convey this information. How on earth do you describe all these essential elements of your professional life?

Your LinkedIn profile

Your LinkedIn profile gives potential employers an insight into your job experience skillsets and career goals. It is a critical element in Brand You.

It shows how you connect and share information or insights.It highlights your professional discussions with like minded professionals. You also have the opportunity to showcase blogs, projects, presentations, books you are reading or companies you are following.

Your previous titles or job roles show progression or related skills sets to potential recruiters or employers. They may spot the exact skill they require in a previous role that you are not using in you current role .

Please read this again and revisit your profile. Does your profile represent Brand You ?